Condiment and sauce container

Abstract

A container for holding a dipping condiment or sauce and allowing a user to wipe a food item to remove excess condiment or sauce. The container has a base and a side wall having one portion higher than an opposing portion, the wall including at least one ridge, groove or other fluid retention device. The wall also includes a pair of opposing inwardly curved gripping surfaces for facilitating gripping by a user's fingers, the gripping surfaces including ribs or grooves. The container may also include a lid which snap fits onto the lip of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding and storing sauces, other liquids or semi-liquids, particulate or other material, comprising:
 a. a base having generally flat base bottom;   b. a generally frusto-conical wall extending upward from the base bottom and having a rim, the wall having
 i. a first section, 
 ii. a second section opposing the first section, the first section having a height greater than the second section, 
 iii. a third section, and 
 iv. a fourth section opposing the third section, the third and fourth sections each having an inwardly curved gripping section, the gripping section having at least one gripping surface comprising a protrusion or recess of a type selected from the group consisting of grooves, ribs, ridges, steps, bumps, spikes, domes, fingers, nibs, and combinations of the foregoing, and; 
   c. a lip extending substantially around the rim of the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall further comprises at least one condiment retention device associated with at least a portion of the base wall and comprising a protrusion or recess of a type selected from the group consisting of grooves, ribs, ridges, steps, bumps, spikes, domes, fingers, nibs, and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall tapers inward from the lip toward the base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is tapered to permit nesting of a plurality of containers. 
     
     
         5 . A container for holding and storing sauces and other liquids, comprising:
 a. a base having
 i. a generally flat base bottom, 
 ii. a generally frusto-conical wall extending upward from the bottom and having a rim, the wall having
 1. a first section, 
 2. a second section opposing the first section, the first section having a height greater than the second section, 
 3. a third section, and 
 4. a fourth section opposing the third section, the third and fourth sections each having an inwardly curved gripping section, the gripping section having at least one gripping surface 
 
 iii. a lip extending substantially around the rim of the wall; and, 
   b. a lid adapted to snap fit over the lip, the lid having
 i. a generally flat lid bottom, 
 ii. a lid wall extending upward from the lid bottom, the lid wall having a first section and a second section, the first section having a height greater than the second section, 
 iii. a seal portion comprising a first flange extending generally outward and generally perpendicular to the lid wall and a second flange extending generally downward from the first flange, the seal portion being adapted to mate with the lid and form a seal therewith, whereby the lid wall first section is generally aligned with the base wall first section, and 
 iv. a tab extending from a portion of the lid.